“You’re a nut on base-ball!” laughed Ben.
“The temples which exist to-day were there when the Incas settled the country,” the boy continued. “They knew no more of their origin than we do at this time!”
“They may be a million years old!” exclaimed Carl.
“Perhaps that’s as good a guess as any,” replied Ben. “We don’t know how old they are, and never shall know.”
“Isn’t it a little remarkable,” said Mellen, “that an act of embezzlement committed in New York City more than two years ago should lead to a visit to ruined temples in Peru?”
“Now about this Lake Titicaca, about which Ben has given us a bit of history,” Mr. Havens said, after replying briefly to Mellen’s question. “We have every reason to believe that Redfern has been living in some of the ancient structures bordering the lake.”
“Did you ever try to unearth the East Side person who wrote the letter you have just referred to?” asked Ben.
“We have spent thousands of dollars in quest of that person,” replied the millionaire, “and all to no purpose.”
“And what do we do to-morrow?” asked Jimmie, breaking into the conversation in true boy-fashion.
“Why, we’re going to start for Peru!” cried Carl.
“And the haunted temples!” laughed Ben. “Honest, boys,” he went on, “I don’t believe there’s anything in this haunted temple yarn. There may be temples which are being guarded from the ravages of the superstitious by interested persons who occasionally play the ghost, but so far as any supernatural manifestations are concerned the idea is ridiculous.”
“Don’t you ever say anything like that in the vicinity of Lake Titicaca,” Mellen suggested. “If you do, the natives will suddenly discover that you are robbers, bent on plunder, and some night, your bodies may find a resting-place at the bottom of the lake.”
“Do they really believe the temples to be haunted?” asked Glenn.
“There are people in whose interest the superstition is kept up,” replied Ben. “These interested people would doubtless gladly perform the stunt just suggested by Mellen.”
“I think I’ve got the combination now!” Jimmie laughed. “See if I’m right. The temples still hold stores of gold, and those searching for the treasure are keeping adventurous people away by making the ghost walk.”